One of the Caribbean’s buzziest destinations reported another record-breaking month of tourism performance. 

Antigua and Barbuda welcomed just under 18,800 visitors to the destination in August, an all-time record for August – eclipsing its previous record set back in 2018. 

That represented an increase of nearly 1,000 visitors compared to August 2018. 

The record-breaking August came after a similarly strong July, when 23,405 tourists came to Antigua and Barbuda, an all-time record for that month, too. 

Americans dominated the arrival numbers, with 52.5 percent of total visitor arrivals last month, followed by the United Kingdom at 39.5 percent. 

“We continue to see a steady growth from the dominant US market, which has aided in boosting our August Arrivals.  This is despite reduced airlift capacity from the US, for the month of August when compared to July,” said Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Minister Charles Fernandez. 

It was another strong statement for the twin-island destination’s tourism reopening, one that began in the beginning of June 2020 and has been one of the region’s model reopenings. 

“The month of August saw a record number of seats available from the UK,” said Fernandez. “The all-time high capacity out of the UK for the month of August along with the fact that the flights were operating from and to the two main airports, London Heathrow and London Gatwick, not only made it more convenient for travel from and to London; but it also allowed for more convenient connections from and to cities in Europe.”

Antigua and Barbuda is also home to a number of Elite Island Resorts properties, a company that set a regional standard earlier this month when it launched a vaccination requirement for all guests 16 and up. Elite Island Resorts’ Antigua resorts include Hammock Cove, Galley Bay, The Verandah and the St James’s Club. 

“Looking ahead to the Winter 2021, we continue to stress the importance of adherence to protocols by visitors and industry partners and vaccination awareness,” Fernandez said. 

For more on how to visit Antigua and Barbuda, see here.

— CJ